Card rack for bridge tables



Oct. 4, 1932. w c WARD CARD RACK FOR BRIDGE TABLES Filed Dec. 17. 1928 INVENTOR 7521315 (3 WI'J ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 4, 1932 PATENT? OFFICE? WILLIS C. WARD, OF ORCHARD LAKE, MICHIGAN CARD RAcKron BRIDGE TABLES Application filed December 17, 1928. Serial No. 326,613.

The invention relates to card racks, particularly designed for use in connection with the following bridge games which are given over radio. The present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon a prior invention forming the subject matter of Patent No. 1,684,813 issued September 18, 1928. The said invention made use of card holding racks, one'for each of the four players, each rack having a series of rows of compartments for receiving the separate cards of a full deck. The cards of the same suit were arranged in the same row and the different suits in successive rows. There were also provided a plurality of decks of cards having the individual cards of each deck visually differentiating from those of other decks on their faces as well as their backs. Thus in use, the cards of the several decks were placed 0 in the racks face downward with the corresponding cards of each deck in the same compartment. When the plays are called, each of the players in succession removes the card called from his rack and places it on the table in the usual manner. Inasmuch, however, as the cards of the several players are clearly dilferentiated, no confusion can arise as 'to'who has played any particular card which is subsequently found in a trick.

1,0 -After the deal has been played, if the players desire to repeat the play, this may be readilydone, as the cards remaining in the racks are arranged in the same manner as those previously played, therefore the deal so may beplayed over as many times'as there 7 are decks in the racks and each deal is distinguished from the others by the shade of the cards.

One objection to my previous construction was that the racks when placed on the top of the table,occupied a considerable portion of the area thereof, and to leave any room for the cards to be played, it was necessary to use decks of a diminished size. With my present improvement I can use decks of larger or standard size and at the same time leave the entire top of the table free for the cards which are played. This I have accomplished by a construction of rack which is 'hungupon the edge portion of the table and which depends therefrom so as to be in a convenient position for use by the player. A further advantage is that a rack so placed will effectively conceal the cards of each player from all other players.

In the drawing: I Figure 1 is a section through a portion of the card table showing my improvement applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the rack as 5 applied to the table.

Figure 3 is a top plan View showing a portion thereof. 'As has been stated, my improvement consists essentially of a series of racks A which are engaged with and hung from the edge portions of the table directly in front of each player. Each of these racks A is provided with four rows of compartments with thirteen compartments in each row. Thus a full deck of cards may be held by this rack with the cards thereof arrangedin suits and in order. The rack may be formedof any suitable material, but as shown it is constructed of sheet metal having hook portions B which engage with the table top and zigzag portions G which form the successive rows of compartments. The individual compartments in each row may be separated from each other by division strips Dand the'proportion of parts is such that when the cards are placed in the compartments there will be a suflicient projecting area for reading the cards. I also preferably arrange along the edge of the table and attach to therack an index 5 of the cards in order as A, K, Q, J 10, etc.

With the construction as described, in use afterthe table is set up the racks A are hooked on the several sides thereof and the decks of cards, differentiated from each other on face and back as previously described, are distributed in the racks. The cards are first placed with backs up but when the hands are called, each of the players will reverse the cards which are called to him so as to lieface'upward in the rack. Subsequently when the plays are called each player removes the card to be played by him from the rack and places it on the table to form the trick, this continuing until the 10o completion of the plays. Should the players desire to determine their own skill in playing 'With' the, same dealt cards, this may be done with the other-decks which are in the rack.

V Each player will know the cards which have been previously dealttofhim as these are I arranged face upward in racks to distinguish them from theremaining cards'placed face downward. Thus the play may be reit peated a numberof times to try out the skill v A of the various players. r r 7 The advantages of my present construction over my earlier one are first, that the full area of thetable is left unobstructed. Sec.- 0nd, that each player cankeep in full survey his own cards'without being able to see the cards of any otherv player. a

v It sometimes happens that players Wish to preserve arecord ofcertain deals inorder that' theg'amemay be replayedsome time in the future. For such a record I have pror vided markers which may be used in connection with the compartmentsin the rack and which will designate the various hands 26 dealt. Thus as shown E are. clips which may be engaged with the walls intermediate adjacent rows of compartments and which 7 have heads that are exposed to the front.

lhese clips are preferably in sets of fifty- 30 two corresponding'to the number of cards in v the deck, all of. the clips of each set being of' a similar color or otherwise identified. 'Any; desired; number of sets of such clips Y may be provided each set being differentiated from other sets by a dilferent color or shade.- Thuswhenever it'is desired 'to preserve arecordfof a hand, clips fromone set are {engaged adjacent to the compartments of the' cards as called andmay beallowed 40 to remain' as a marker for as long a period as desired. vAsthe clips are quite limited in 7 width, there is space available for the placing ofclips from varioussets adjacent with I theksame coinpartmentso thatany number I of difierent hands may be recorded in this What I claim as my invention is: V 1. The combination with a card table, of fat-rack having means detachably engaging the j 60 edge portionofthe'table for suspending the rack therefrom, said rack being provided 7 with a seriesof forwardly opening. compart ments forireceiving cards. v

'2. 'The.combination 'witha card table, of t a rack having a rearwardly opening hook portion adapted to fit over thevedge portion a of the table for detachably suspending the rack; therefrom said rack being provided with a series of forwardl'y'opening compart-ments for receiving cards. r V 7 In testimony whereof I affix mysignature. I @WILLIS'CgWARD. 

